New York Estate Planning & Elder Law Blog

Annuity Alternative for Estate Planning

Published on: June 22, 2015 | by Ettinger Law Firm

One common estate planning tool for people entering retirement is the use of an annuity for their retirement funds; however, recently a product has emerged on the scene. A retirement spending account has now become an alternative to an annuity by controlling the amount of distributions and simultaneously providing a degree of control over the retirement funds. It is a new way for people to continue to save in retirement while also controlling the amount that they spend.

What is a Retirement Spending Account?

The purpose of a retirement spending account is to combine the benefits of both an annuity and savings account while also minimizing the disadvantages of both. It seeks to resolve the issue of not outliving your retirement savings while not constricting a person’s power over their own money like in an annuity. A retirement spending account is a fund that is managed by an asset management firm. The firm invests the retirement money, manages the account, and provides the retiree with a monthly distribution.

Annual Report Ranks States’ Quality of Elder Care

Published on: June 20, 2015 | by Ettinger Law Firm

The United Health Foundation, a nonprofit organization that is focused on improving healthcare and overall health, published its third annual report earlier this year that analyzes how well each state across the country is taking care of their seniors. Based on thirty-five different benchmarks, the study breaks down each individual state’s strengths and weaknesses for various elder care needs in addition to comparing states as a whole.

Elder Care in the United States

Almost one in seven citizens in the United States is now 65 years old or older, and the need for quality checks on our nation’s elder care system is increasing. By 2030, it is estimated that over one-fifth of the country’s population will be elderly. By 2050, it is estimated that nearly 83.7 million people will be 65 years old or older, more than double the elderly population in 2012.

Court Rules on Statutory Shares of an Estate

Published on: June 19, 2015 | by Ettinger Law Firm

The Supreme Court of Connecticut recently ruled on a case involving a statutory share of an estate. Every state has laws regarding how much of an estate must be given to close family members, which is known as the statutory share. A person must petition for a statutory share of an estate when their spouse, child, parent, or other loved one leaves them nothing in the estate either through the will or by dying intestate.

Facts of the Case

In the case of Dinan v. Patten, et al, Althea Dinan was married to Albert Garofalo. He passed away in 2000 and left behind a will for his estate. The will left everything to his daughter, Anne Patten, and her three children Nicole, Aaron, and Alexis while leaving nothing for Ms. Dinan. After his death, Ms. Dinan petitioned the court for her statutory share of the estate pursuant to Connecticut law. In 2008, after years of being unable to agree upon the proper amount of her share, the executor of the estate asked the court to render a ruling on the issue.

Six Things on a Caregiver’s To-Do List

Published on: June 18, 2015 | by Ettinger Law Firm

Millions of people across the country are currently part of the “sandwich generation” They are caring for their children and simultaneously caring for an elderly parent. Despite the fact that so many people are struggling to handle this responsibility, there are very few resources that caregivers can use for support. This article highlights six things that a caregiver can do to prepare for some of the most common stressful situations that occur with elder care.

Have a Talk with Your Parents

Before cognitive issues or even caregiving needs arise, you should sit down and have a conversation with your parents about everything regarding their care. You should discuss their wants and needs regarding caregiving as well as review their finances, estate plan, health issues, end-of-life decisions, and more.

Court Decides on Probating a Copy of a Will

Published on: June 17, 2015 | by Ettinger Law Firm

The Supreme Court of Virginia recently ruled on a case involving the question of whether a copy of a will passed muster for probate. Typically, the law provides that the original will must be submitted in order to probate an estate, but exceptions to the rule do exist. The case highlights the importance of keeping an original will as well as what must be proven in order to have a copy allowed for probate.

Facts of the Case

In the case of Edmonds v. Edmonds, et al, James Edmonds passed away in 2013 and left behind his wife, Elizabeth Edmonds, daughter Kelly, and Christopher, a son from a previous relationship. It is undisputed that in 2002, Mr. Edmonds executed a will that left all of his personal property to his wife and the remainder to a revocable living trust. The will stated that if Elizabeth passed away first, the property would go to Kelly and specifically stated that Christopher was omitted from the estate.

Home Property Transfers to Children

Published on: June 10, 2015 | by Ettinger Law Firm

While it has fallen out of favor in the last few years, the “Qualified Personal Residence Trust” (QPRT) is gaining traction once again as an estate planning option for people who wish to transfer their home to the next generation when they pass away. The QPRT allows for a parent to transfer their home to their children with the minimum amount of taxes while the parent continues to live in the home.

Reasons for Establishing a QPRT

The main purpose of establishing a QPRT is the state and federal tax benefits. If the family home is a significant asset, or the most significant asset, in the estate and the family believes that it will appreciate in value then a QPRT might be a viable option for tax savings. This is also incredibly important if you believe that the value of the home would exceed the estate’s value above the federal tax exemption limit of $5.43 million for 2015. Placing the home inside of a trust will shield it from the estate taxes by effectively removing the residence from the estate.

Home-Based Care Plan Improves Dementia Care

Published on: June 10, 2015 | by Ettinger Law Firm

A new study has shown that a program that gives families with loved ones who suffer from dementia the tools necessary to help better care for them has lowered the use of nursing homes. This new program uses a telephone-based program where non-medical managers use assessments and evidence-based protocols to help educate and offer support to people treating family members with dementia and other cognitive impairments. This study highlights the need for new dementia care programs and proves that this type of system can be implemented on a large scale.

Results of the Study

According to one of the primary researchers of the study, almost fifteen percent of seniors over the age of seventy years old have some form of dementia. The study looked at around 250 caregivers that enlisted in the program and 250 caregivers in their normal routine that did not use the program. At the end of the study, the research showed that the caregivers enrolled in the new program were more satisfied with the level of care and had more confidence in their ability to care for their loved one.

Fixing a Faulty Estate Plan

Published on: June 8, 2015 | by Ettinger Law Firm

More and more people are taking it upon themselves to prepare for the future with an estate plan. While some take it upon themselves to craft an estate and succession plan for their family, it is always a good idea to work with an estate planning attorney to ensure that there are no holes in what you have created. This case illustrates how even the best intentioned estate plans can still have issues that could cause a lot of unintended problems if not corrected now.

Discovering Errors in the Plan

For example, one doctor had built a small specialized practice over the last fifteen years that grossed $1.7 million annually. He had crafted a will and trust for his family that included a wife and children in addition to the creation of a succession plan for his thriving medical practice. However, when the doctor reviewed his plan with an estate planning attorney, a large hole was discovered in his succession plan.

Power of Attorney Capabilities

Published on: June 5, 2015 | by Ettinger Law Firm

If you are granted a durable power of attorney over another person, it means that you have the right to make financial and legal decisions on their behalf. However, the power of attorney does have its limits, and a recent case that went to the Supreme Court in South Dakota illustrates the importance of clarifying what the capabilities of the power of attorney entail.

Facts of the Case

In the case of Studt v. Black Hills Fed. Credit Union, Dorothy McLean invested a certificate of deposit (CD) with the credit union in 2008. Then in 2012, she moved in with her son, Ronald Studt, and also named him as her attorney-in-fact with a durable power of attorney form. In his role, Mr. Studt would be allowed to transfer and gift property to persons or organizations as long as Ms. McLean’s financial needs could still be met and that the transfers were for estate planning purposes.

Apple Wants More Japanese Seniors Using iPads

Published on: June 3, 2015 | by Ettinger Law Firm

Announced this month, Apple, Inc. and IBM are coming together on a new project that will bring iPads and custom apps to Japan’s aging seniors. The companies are using Japan as the launch pad for their new system before possibly expanding the program to other countries. The country is a perfect place to test out the new system because by 2055, experts estimate that almost forty percent of Japan’s population will be senior citizens and already over one-quarter of its residents are 65 years old or older.

New Technology for Japan’s Elderly

The two American companies announced a partnership with Japan Post Group, the country’s largest health and life insurance company, to bring specialized iPads and apps to the nation’s elderly. The goal of the partnership is to connect millions of Japan’s seniors with services and tools that they need to stay healthy and in their homes. The CEO of Japan Post Group admitted that “Among all the nations in the world, the issue of aging generations is most active in Japan. We need real solutions.”